My Rifle
The Creed of a United States Marine

by W.H. Rupertus (Major General UsMC)

This is my rifle.
There are many like it,
but this one is MINE.
My rifle is my best friend.
It is my life.
I must master it
as I must master my life.
My rifle without me is useless.
Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy
who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me.
I will ...
My rifle and myself know that what counts in war
is not the rounds we fire,
the noise of our bursts,
nor the smoke we make.
We know it is the hits that count.
We will hit ...
My rifle is human, even as I,
because it is my life.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths,
its parts, its accessories,
its sights, and its barrel.
I will ever guard it
against the ravages of weather and damage.
I will keep my rifle clean and ready,
even as I am clean and ready.
We will become part of each other.
We will ...
Before God I swear this creed.
My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country.
We are the masters of our enemy.
We are the saviors of my life.
So be it, until there is no enemy, but PEACE.